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Longest Flight EVER!
I've often wondered this, and now I have my answer. But before I throw it out, want to take a guess on how many hours it takes to fly the longest commercial passenger flight in the world? My personal record is a gut wrenching 12 hours on a nonstop Moscow to Los Angeles Aeroflot trek. And none of the TV screens worked.
According to a recent USA Today article, the longest flight currently in operation is from Los Angeles to Singapore on Singapore Airlines, clocking in at a grueling 18 hours and 30 minutes.
Hey, that's not even enough time to watch an entire season of 24!
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Jim Mar 7th 2006 4:09PM
I've taken that flight from EWR to Singapore-business class. Was one of the most comfortable flights I've been on. Could have easily taken the return flight back to EWR. Singapore Airlines rocks!
Bill Reals Mar 7th 2006 4:28PM
My personal best was a San Fran to Taipei flight which clocked in just north of 13 hours. In between the latest Hollywood reject movies, with D-list stories and stars, they had the big-screen real-time GPS-map showing the flight-time remaining and our position in the trip. 7 hours into the trip the map showed us we were in the middle of nowhere, it just got worse from the there, at 10 hours I couldn't sit any longer and wanted off the plane. I can't imagine an 18 hour flight.
For an 18 hour flight I suggest a laptop, PSP, mp3 player and some noise canceling headphones.
Charles Mar 7th 2006 6:31PM
22 hours from London, to Copenhagen, Copenhagen to Alaska, Alaska to Tokyo and Tokyo to Singapore. I flew back the same way, 4 days later!
I also flew 16 hours from New York to Tehran, Iran in the then new 747-SP at 45,000 feet with a view of the world's curvature!
So what prize do I win?
morituri Mar 8th 2006 3:30AM
Actually, 18 hours and 30 minutes is plenty of time to watch a season of 24. Without the ads, the episodes are 42 minutes each, giving a total of less than 17 hours. Now, whether your laptop or portable dvd player battery will last that long is another story.
MG Mar 8th 2006 7:45AM
I took a 14 hour nonstop Cathay Pacific flight from Frankfurt to HongKong. Excellent service and on time arrival made it more enjoyable
Katrina Mar 8th 2006 7:58AM
13 hrs non-stop from Chicago to Tokyo, then another 6 hrs to Bangkok. Will not be doing that again, even though I slept and ate and attempted to watch TV the entire flight!
Ross Mar 8th 2006 9:07AM
Do any of those long haul flights have power jacks for laptops? I've got to go Toronto-Sydney in Jan and would gladly pay a little more for an airline that would save the $100+ x2 I'd need for extra laptop batteries to make the journey.
Rob Brooks-Bilson Mar 8th 2006 5:51PM
Airbus has power jacks, but you can only use them to charge your laptop, not keep it continuously powered as you use it.
ed gradel Mar 10th 2006 9:33AM
my longest was on the PanAm Clipper from honolulu to frisco in 1953,,,17 hours.
chandy Mar 12th 2006 2:10PM
I just got home from europe - the flight was non stop and I live in Arizona ... 2 days and the jet lag is really effecting me badly - any suggestions? ChandlerChik1@aol.com.
Thanks!
daniel mcthenia Mar 12th 2006 3:52PM
the best way to recover from jet lag is to take a LONG WALK. walking for at least an hour, would be best. then try to go to bed at your regular time(or at least close to it). melatonin, an herbal supplement found anywhere(gnc, walmart, etc...), supposedly helps with insomnia and jet lag. also drink plenty of h2o and juices. we tend to alter our food and water intake when we travelling, usually getting dehydrated. it's easier to recover from jet lag when travelling from east to west, than vice-versa.
Ray Mar 12th 2006 4:24PM
Travel time really has to taken in the time between flights. I have been to Moscow twice from Seattle and it has always close to 20 hours with the plane stiches. My longest trip was from Seattle to South Africa with only one plane change at JFK -23 hours.
S. Walker Mar 12th 2006 5:16PM
You need to get hydrated!
Air travel saps the water out of your system.
drink lots of water, alcohol will only make it worse.
Try 24 hours across the states to new zealand.
Quantas and Air New Zealand are both wonderful.
New Zealand is awesome.
S. Johnstonbaugh Mar 12th 2006 5:31PM
I've flown Qantas Airlines from Newark, NJ to Sydney, Australia (19 hrs.) three times in the last 15 years. If you can stretch out and sleep in the back rows of the plane you've got it made. You have to get these seats fast though once everyone is seated. I've done this twice, the last time I wasn't able to, and I was like a sardine in a can, the crew disappeared ALL NIGHT and I was a mess. Australia is worth it though. My favorite destination!
Jeff Mar 12th 2006 8:34PM
I went from Atlanta to Hawaii. Long trip. read half a book. felt like we would run out of fuel from being up so long. Still, Hawaii is well worth the trip.
monkey Mar 13th 2006 11:55PM
Back in 1977 mum, dad and the three of us ages 9,10 & 11 went Adelaide - Sydney - Singapore - Bombay - Bahrain - Athens - Paris - London. 40+ hours with 3 kids and only allowed off the plane twice.
In 1999 I did Adelaide - Sydney - LA - Denver - Atlanta - Paris - Helsinki, ferry to Tallin, then overnight train to Moscow after christmas in Australia to make New Year's Eve for the millenium in Red Square. 18 time zones and 8 meals in a row on planes.
Jenny Apr 14th 2006 2:01PM
We just got back from the trip from hell. Colorado Springs to Cape Town, South Africa and back done with a 16 month old child. 24 hours to get there, 31 to get back including layovers in Amsterdam and Minneapolis.
Morgan Apr 23rd 2006 4:49AM
I often spend 30+ hours, PDX to SFO to Narita to BKK to Phitsanulok in Thailand. If Narita had no showers I'd shoot myself. The longest single leg is just the 12 or so to Narita. I think the Singapore direct has got to to be the longest single shot anywhere, but what a relief to just be done with it all at once. Jealousy.
I think the best cure for jet lag, like diarrhea, is just jumping in with both feet. Drink the local water as soon as you get somewhere and just get it over with. For jet lag, if you're arriving in the morning, sleep all you can on the airplane and stay awake all day, if you're arriving at night try not to sleep at all on the way there. If you can stay awake and you get there at night, you can be on schedule from the first morning, and who wants to waste vacation sleeping once you're there?
Aida May 2nd 2006 3:51PM
poopoo